Keep Walking Colombia: 6,000 Colombians Unite in Nudity and Make a Stand for Peace

Keep Walking Colombia: 6,000 Colombians Unite in Nudity and Make a Stand for Peace

BOGOTÁ, Colombia, July 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --



New film from Bogota's Museum of Modern Art and Johnnie Walker(R) tells the human


stories of progress and hope from the front line of the Colombian civil war  



"Right wing or left wing, nude we are equal," says Wilson Barreto.



Wilson was blinded by a FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) bomb attack in
Bogota when he was just 19. He is one of more than 6,000 people from all sides of the
Colombian civil war who posed nude at Bolivar Square, Bogota, to make a stand for peace in
a unifying art installation by renowned American photographer Spencer Tunick.



(Photo:
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(Photo:
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(Photo:
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Video: https://youtu.be/eFtaVzy70aQ  



The installation - Tunick's largest in six years - captured the optimistic mood of a
nation on the road to peace and is the inspiration for the short documentary film Keep
Walking Colombia, from Bogota's Museum of Modern Art (MAMBO) and Johnnie Walker(R).



Released to coincide with Colombian Independence Day (July 20) - a day that marks
Colombia's Declaration of Independence from Spain - Keep Walking Colombia charts the
stories of five Colombians as they take part in the creation of the art installation and
iconic photograph.



In the film, Wilson stands with Luis, the FARC commander responsible for the bomb
attack that cost him his sight - a man he now considers a very good friend. Wilson
features in the powerful short film alongside civilian victim Pilar Navarrete, ex-army
officer Pablo Emilio Moncayo, ex-right wing paramilitary activist Ederlidia Garizao and
Maria Esperanza Sierra, a former FARC combatant.



"After half a century of conflict, the people of Colombia are driving their nation
forward on the road to peace and freedom through their openness and unyielding hope for
the future," said Claudia Hakim, Director of MAMBO Colombia.



"These stories, told through art and film, transcend matters of politics, belief or
national affiliations. They are the stories of people who have endured so much, and are
determined to embrace the possibilities of a shared future."



Pilar Navarrete's husband disappeared during the siege at the Palace of Justice in
Bogota in 1985 and his body was never found. Pilar said of her participation in the nude
photograph and documentary: "I feel like I'm paying homage. I'm going to bare my soul and
my body and tell everyone about Hector Jaime Beltran.



"I'm very proud of the Colombian people. We've experienced a lot of pain but we are
still smiling. We want and aim to be a country that includes everybody."



Pablo Moncayo, who was held captive by FARC for 12 years, said: "We are all equal.
Whatever differences you may see, we all have blood in our veins; we are all made of skin
and bones."



Daniel Leahy, Global Content Director at Johnnie Walker, said: "It is a privilege for
us to be able to help get these incredibly inspiring stories out into the world. Johnnie
Walker has always stood for progress and last year we launched a campaign that explored
the idea that a positive outlook can help people achieve that.



"Keep Walking Colombia tells the stories of five Colombians who, despite their history
of conflict, believe in a better tomorrow. Working with Spencer Tunick has allowed us to
tell these inspiring, human stories which highlight the bravery, the positivity, and the
willingness of those affected by unimaginable tragedy and adversity to build a better
tomorrow.



"And while this is a Colombian story, we believe the sentiment of optimism and
positivity as a route towards progress is something that will resonate with people all
over the world."



Keep Walking Colombia is available to watch here: https://youtu.be/eFtaVzy70aQ



Notes to Editors 



About Diageo 



Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands
including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan's and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff and
Ciroc vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.



Diageo is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock
Exchange (DEO) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For
more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at
http://www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource,
http://www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.



Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.



The JOHNNIE WALKER and KEEP WALKING words, the Striding Figure device and associated
logos are trademarks (c) John Walker & Sons 2016. 



Enjoy Johnnie Walker responsibly.



DRINKiQ.com






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http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160718/390511



http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160718/390512


Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160718/390510
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Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160718/390511
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Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160718/390512
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http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160718/390512
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Johnnie Walker

CONTACT: For more information, please contact: Carol McAllister, Smarts Communicate E: Carol.Mcallister@smartscommunicate.com T: 0044 2890 39 55 00 M: 0044 7967 758 491


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